Technical Information

SECTION 1
GENERAL OVERVIEW

1.8 SIGNAL MONITORING
The ET-SERIES ultrasonic inspection systems incorporate visual displays, visual alarms, audio alarms, and recorded analog to indicate suspect pipe conditions. Visual displays are of real-time analog from all channels and digital monitoring of thickness readings. Visual alarms consist of real-time LED's, latching LED's  and recorded alarms to indicate the detection of conditions exceeding threshold levels. Audio alarms are sounded in real-time for conditions exceeding threshold levels and are of different tones to distinguish between ID flaws, OD flaws and wall thickness measurements. Recorded analog is continuous for wall thickness and can be scaled to the operator or customers own requirements. The analog signal flaw channels are recorded at the proper amplitude whenever the signal exceeds threshold levels. The threshold level can be set to zero (0) for continuous monitoring of the analog signal.

1.9 SYSTEM CONTROL
The ET-SERIES ultrasonic inspection systems incorporate a programmable logic controller to facilitate in both pipe handling and the inspection process. The use of a computer generated touch screen greatly enhances the overall system capability, aesthetics, and noise immunity that is normally associated with mechanical switches. Further system modifications are made much more easily, as no system rewiring is required. While using this advanced feature all inspection criteria is constantly monitored by the PLC to insure that no area of the inspection is left to chance. The totally automatic feature also has the added benefit of reducing operator fatigue.

1.10 OPTIONAL DIGITAL COMPUTER ENHANCEMENT PACKAGE
Real time computer enhancement of the inspection is possible using the latest in today's technology. The digital computer enhancement package available for the ET-SERIES inspection systems, integrates the ultrasonic electronics with a proprietary time domain facility, known as the ET-26 module. Together with the computer software package, ultrasonic signals are converted into digital information and displayed on a color coded, computer-animated screen. This information is displayed accurately in both the X and Y-axis, base on the Customer's requirements, and stored on the computers internal hard drive, optical floppy drive, or the latest in compact disk technology.

When accuracy and speed are of the up most importance for prove-up of indications found during the full body inspection process, the computer generated reporting system will become an invaluable tool. Detailed information of indications that exceed threshold levels, is generated as hard copy on prove-up sheets. The detailed information includes the job number, length number, date, time, flaw number, transducer number, transducer angle, signal amplitude, ID/OD information, X position, Y position, and total tally length. An area for final classification of the length is also provided on the prove-up sheet. Final classification is entered into the computer generated reporting system. At the completion of the job, this information is generated in hard copy as the final inspection report.

Data derived from both flaw units and the wall measurement unit is routed to an optical display panel. Contained on this display panel is a series of semiconductor lamps. Each channel of incoming information is provided as two (2) different indications. The first is a lamp with variable duration from 0 to 75 seconds. This lamp acts as a history indicator for indications found during the inspection process. In the case of flaw channels, two (2) history lamps are used in conjunction with the ET-26 module to determine weather the indication was on the ID or the OD surface. Audible alarms are synchronized with the real time incoming data and use multiple tones to distinguish between ID and OD indications.

Data generated by the Digital Computer Enhancement Package is routed for storage in the customer's desired format. This information can be recalled and displayed for future reference by the post inspection software package. Many other software programs are provided with the Computer Enhancement Package. These consist of instrument setting tables for the KSE's and WDM, encoder screens, transducer design software, and helix calculation software. All of these packages are custom designed to meet the customer's individual specifications.

1.11 VISONIC™ Virtual Imaging Inspection
The latest technology required to reach the world's deepest oil and gas well depth, is Technical Industries, Inc., proprietary latest innovation. Now our customers can view, (walk) the pipe from inside, outside, and as a flat plate, stop at any point and view the wall thickness, and condition of the pipe. By using the proper algorithm you can calculate the burst rate, collapse rate, and (tensile strength) pull rate of each joint, obtain a permanent record, and by comparing recent inspections to previous ones, thus enabling the client to project future life expectancy, and usage of the pipe.